FLOAT YOUR BOAT: K-8 Team Strategy PE Game (Throwing, Leaping)
Splash into boatloads of gym class fun with FLOAT YOUR BOAT – an epic Throwing, Leaping, Hopping, Defending, Tactics, and Strategy Team PE Game your Kindergarten PE -8th grade students will absolutely LOVE!
FLOAT YOUR BOAT
FLOAT YOUR BOAT is a high-energy, teamwork-packed activity that keeps kids dodging, strategizing, and having a blast as they sink rival ships while working together to keep their own boat afloat.
It’s perfect for whole class PE fun, rainy day play, and skill practice.
Float Your Boat is a definite MUST-HAVE for your PE teacher toolkit.
Simply print the lesson plan and keep in your Instant PE Game Binder so you’re always prepared with quick, easy, and crazy fun, go-to activities your students will request again and again, all school year long!
FLOAT YOUR BOAT
In this post love2teachandlearn (Mrs. T.) will share every awesome detail related to how to play these incredible physical education game.
Hi there, it’s so great to meet you! I’m Mrs. T. (or you can call me Jen) – a Michigan mom, wife, new grandma (aka “Jemma”) and K-12 PE teacher who has also taught Kindergarten, 3rd, and 6th grades.
I love teaching PE class because I get to spend time telling silly sports jokes and exercising while laughing with my students.
I’m also on a serious mission to MAKE SCHOOL FUN AGAIN and this FLOAT YOUR BOAT physical education game is an awesome way to to just that!
READY! SET! LET’S PLAY!
Equipment Needed
For this awesome game you will need:
- 2-4 MATS (Exercise mats work well)
- 16-24 BOWLING PINS (Or more if you have large classes)
- MEDIUM-SIZED BALLS (One for one each student playing)
- 20-25 POLYSPOTS (Or more if you have them)
- 4-8 CONES (This is optional but they do help define the play boundaries)
Float Your Boat – Game Setup
FIRST, divide students into four teams, set mats (boats) up in a square formation and send each team to a boat.
THEN, spread out poly spots (lily pads) inside the mat area and a few cones in the corners of the mats.
NEXT, place 4-6 bowling pins upright around the corners of each boat.
FINALLY, give each student a ball and have teams stand together on their boats.
How to Play: FLOAT YOUR BOAT
OBJECT OF THE GAME: Sink the 3 other boats by knocking over all of their bowling pins (keeping the boat afloat).
When the game begins, students can throw or roll the balls at the other team’s boats in an attempt to knock down their pins and sink their boats.
Students CAN:
- Leap or Hop along the Lily Pads
- Release the Balls from the Boats or Lily Pads Only
- Move Freely on LAND (outside of cone area) to get the balls and bring them back into play – but CANNOT Release the Balls from land area
- Defend or Guard their Pins but CANNOT touch them in any way – if they knock down their own pins accidentally – they must stay down
When all of a team’s pins get knocked over, their boat sinks and they must jump off of their boat and onto the lily pads. They now continue trying to sink the other boats.
The last team to keep their boat afloat (have at least one bowling pin left standing upright) WINS THE GAME or EARNS A POINT (You decide)
Bonus Game Teaching Tips
TIP 1: I like to give my students 1-2 minutes before the game begins to strategize and make a team plan (Who will stay on the boat and guard the pins, Who will travel along the lily pads, Who will retrieve the balls from land, etc.)
TIP 2: Depending on your class, it’s fun to play silly songs about boats and water during this game – “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat”, “Baby Shark” and the “Jaws Theme” are all fun ones to play.
TIP 3: The sweet spot for this game is 2nd-8th grade, but it works with K-1 with a few small tweaks. I like to adjust the distance of the boats depending on the age/grade level of students you are playing with.
TIP 4: If you don’t have enough PolySpots for the lily pads you can use extra mats or plastic baseball/kickball bases and tell the kids they are extra strong, GIANT lily pads that they can step on.
TIP 5: The square interlocking exercise floor mats that you can get at FIVE BELOW are awesome for this game because you can use them to easily make boats of all different sizes. These are the ones I use and love.
TIP 6: It’s also really fun to play with just 2 boats or teams if you have big enough mats and I’ve even played with partner groups and single person boats too. SO MUCH FUN!
The Final Whistle
FLOAT YOUR BOAT is such an incredible whole-class team activity that keeps everyone throwing, leaping, strategizing, and most importantly, having a total blast.
And if you loved this cooperative team game, be sure to check out FOOD WARS, LUCKY PIN, and FOOD FIGHT. You’re students will absolutely love these team PE activities too.
So, why not blast some “clean” and upbeat PE music and bring the excitement of FLOAT YOUR BOAT to your gymnasium TODAY!
Don’t Forget! You can snag your very own PDF of this awesome PE Game RIGHT HERE.
Mrs. T’s K-5 PE GAMES “Always Growing” BUNDLE
And if you want the absolute BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK, FLOAT YOUR BOAT is also included in my “ALWAYS GROWING” K-5 PE Game BUNDLE too!
You can snag my Physical Education HUGE GROWING BUNDLE Right Here!
Hey – Thanks so much for stopping by today to check out my FLOAT YOUR BOAT game.
I really appreciate it and I hope that you have a TRULY BLESSED And BEAUTIFUL Day filled with plenty of FUN and FITNESS!
Be sure to check out my other unique and fun PE Gym Resources and Games in my Love 2 Teach and Learn TPT store RIGHT HERE!
